Our 4 Region 5 Elites competing at this years 2019 US Gym Championships talk about podium training, impactful moments in their careers, Idols in the sport, and more.
2019 US Championships Coverage Page
20 Questions with 2x JO National Qualifier Madeline Kees (Energym)
Our next 20 Questions athlete is Madeline Kees, a 2x JO National Qualifier, from Energym in Illinois. Prior to Level 10 Madeline had a very successful Level 9 career making 2 Eastern National appearances and earning National Champion honors on the Floor Exercise. Moving to Level 10 in 2017 she qualified to JO Nationals her first year out. Madeline, who hails from a Energym in Illinois, keeps herself busy during the season not only competing at the top Level for Energym, but also her High School Gymnastics Team that in 2019 took Regional Team Champion honors. Let’s get to know Madeline a little better as she ends her summer training and journey’s down the path to a 3rd JO Nationals Dream Team.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? I was 3 years old when my dad enrolled me into a toddler class because I was always energetic and needed a place to put that energy into. I’ve loved it ever since.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event is Beam because it’s the most challenging and I love that.
Favorite Skill to Train/Compete? My favorite skill to train is a front aerial because there’s so many skills you can connect out of it. My favorite skill to compete is a half in half out dismount off bars because it’s the best feeling to land.
Dream Skill? My dream skill is a Double Double off bars
What is your favorite part of Gymnastics? My favorite part about gymnastics is all the amazing friends and opportunities it has given me.
What college will you be attending attending and why? I am currently undecided
What is your favorite meet to compete at and why? My favorite meet to compete at is JO Nationals because I love rooming with the girls, the all around energy of the meet, and it feels like all my hard work has paid off.
What has been your biggest accomplishment in Gymnastics so far? Qualifying to JO Nationals my first year as a level 10.
What is your favorite Region 5 Feature or Series? My favorite region 5 series is the all access workout because it’s cool to see how other gyms train.
What is your go-to playlist or song before meets? My go-to song before meets is “Remember the Name” by Fort Minor
What are 3 things you could not live without? 3 things I could not live without are my Friends/Family, Netflix, and Chocolate.
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? I would be a dog because they are always too full of energy and are just so so cute.
What are the 5 Most Important or Must Have items in your gym bag? 5 must haves in my gym bag are Tape, Pre wrap, Headphones, a snack, and my water bottle.
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? Before each Regional meet I always have to have a steak with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli.
What do you like to do outside of the gym? Outside of gym I like to hang out with my friends and ride my bike.
What is your most embarrassing gym or meet moment? My most embarrassing moment at a meet was at level 7 state we were doing march in and they had a red carpet since it was a hollywood theme. They called out my team and as I was running I tripped on the red carpet and fell flat on my face in front of everyone.
If you were not a Gymnast, what sport would you try and why? If I wasn’t in gymnastics I would do Softball 18) I respect all athletes because they all are passionate about what they do and try their hardest day in and day out.19) One thing I learned from gymnastics is to trust the process of things because in the end everything will work out.
Most memorable moment in Gymnastics so far? Most memorable gymnastics moment was either winning floor at Easterns or qualifying to JO Nationals for the first time.
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom you have received from your coach? The most valuable piece of advice a coach has given me was that mindset is the key to what you want to achieve.
Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself…Fun Fact about me is that my mom and I share the same birthday.
Making Moves Monday (August 5, 2019)
Region 5 is making their move into 2020. Upgrade season is in full swing so it’s again time for Making Moves Monday. Check out some of the new skills being done from our gymnasts around the Region. If you want your upgrades to be included in future Making Your Move posts upload your video to your Instagram page (must be public or put up on gym IG) and tag us @region5gyminsider and #R5MakingMovesMonday
Jtree Gym Balm Heals Like a Rest Day!
Katya Sander, Perfection
Logan Hinson, Michigan Elite
Mila Brusch, Cincinnati
Sidney Washington, Gym America
Madeline Kees, Energym
Alexa Denton, Phenom
Katie Ferguson, JPAC
Gabi Ursu, Naperville
20 Questions with JO National Qualifier Madison “Polly” Greene (Champion-KY)
Our next 20 Questions athlete is Madison “Polly” Greene from Champion Gymnastics in Louisville, Kentucky. Madison, who qualified in 2019 to her 1st JO National Championships, is a 3rd year Level 10 entering her Junior year of High School. What I absolutely love the most about Madison is her confidence, especially on the Balance Beam and Floor Exercise, as soon as she salutes she takes command of the event you can see this when she walks onto the Floor you can tell she means business. With summer coming to the end and meet season fast approaching, let’s get to know Madison a little better as she prepares for the upcoming season and the opportunity to represent Region 5 at the 2020 JO National Championships.
How did you get into the Sport of Gymnastics? How old where you? The way I got into gymnastics is through my cousin. My cousin was practicing gymnastics and I wanted to learn what she was doing, so she taught me and I ended up being pretty good at it so my parents enrolled me in classes.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event has to be floor. Just the feeling like Im flying when tumbling is what makes me love it.
Favorite Skill to Train/Compete? My favorite skill to compete has to be back handspring back layout.
Dream Skills? My dream skill is to compete a full in piked.
What is your favorite part of Gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is probably the friendships and memories you create. Every meet you meet someone new and create new memories with your team and I think that is what makes me love this sport so much.
What college will you be attending? Why? I am currently undecided on what college I will be attending.
What is your favorite meet to compete at? My favorite meet to compete at has to be our home meet, Derby Classic. Its so amazing to watch all family, friends , and girls come out and support. The energy is always high and loud lol.
What is your biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics this far has to be qualifying to JO Nationals and accomplishing my goals I had for this past season.
What is your favorite Region 5 Feature or Series? My favorite Region 5 feature has to be “Making Moves Monday.” Its so thrilling to see all the new and unique skills girls in our region are working on.
What is your go-to playlist or song prior to competition? My go to playlist for meets has to be either “2.0 country’’ or “Let’s get it.”
What are 3 things you could not live without? I could not live without hashbrowns, my phone, and coffee
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? I would be a monkey because monkeys can jump, run, flip, etc
What are the 5 most important MUST HAVES in your gym bag?CHAPSTICK, a lot of tape, Grips, tiger paws, lacrosse ball
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? My pre-meet ritual would have to be chugging a glass of orange juice because usually it gives me a little jump and then it gets my mind in set.
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Outside of gymnastics I like swimming, shopping, hanging with friends, and going out to eat.
What is your most embarrassing meet or gymnastics moment? My most embarrassing meet moment has to be at nationals when I was gonna jump to the high bar but mid air decided not to and slid face first on the mat.
If you were not a gymnast what sport would you try and why? I would probably either choose diving or volleyball because they both are the most exciting to me.
What athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? I respect football players the most because they are like gymnast. They get hit, fall, smashed, etc but still get up on their feet and keep going.
What is something you have learned in Gymnastics that you will carry with you? I have learned to keep calm and go will the flow. This sport will throw a lot of curves at you and you just have to learn to handle them and keep moving forward.
Most memorable JO Nationals Moment? The most memorable JO moment had to be hitting my bar routine. I was very worried after practice day but knew I could do it as I have done many bar routines before. I kept calm and knew I could do what I wanted to do.
What is a piece of advice or words of wisdom you have received from your coaches? My coaches have all given me a lot of pieces of advice but one that they always remind me of is to not try harder than what I am capable of. A lot of times I will get mad at myself because I feel that I didn’t do my best or I am not getting a certain skill. But they tell me to not get in over my head and to just focus on what I can do.
